The Bittern Award recognises groups, organisations or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to Arnside & Silverdale National Landscape.

The 2023 Bittern Award recipient is Steve Porter, for inspiring the community of Arnside to take action for biodiversity,  in particular his work to enhance verges and greenspaces in the village involving Arnside Primary School and many others.

In response to receiving the award, Steve said:

I must say a lot of the credit has to go to the wonderful people who’ve worked so hard to help with the project, perhaps no-one more than your own Dougie Watson, who has been a hero throughout. We wouldn’t have achieved much without him. Caroline Howard has been a great help too. And I have to say a huge thank you to local resident Paul Barnes who started the whole thing off and has also been absolutely remorseless in driving things on. Thanks also to Nick Sharpe and his staff at the school for their unwavering support – and of course the marvellous enthusiasm of the children, our future.

Past recipients include:

2022 Cllr Brian Meakin – for his longstanding commitment as Arnside & Silverdale AONB Executive Committee Chairman

2021 The Back On Our Map Project (BOOM) – for their work on species reintroductions within the AONB.

2020 Simon Whorrall and the Arnside Volunteer Group – for their work supporting the community during the pandemic

2019 Feleena Taylor – for all her work setting up the Arnside & Silverdale AONB ‘Walks for All’ programme

2018 Tony Riden – for his enormous contribution to the AONB during his time as the AONB Countryside Officer

2017 Bill Grayson – for 25 years working as a conservation grazing farmer in Arnside & Silverdale AONB

2016 Rob Petley-Jones  – for his outstanding work at Gait Barrows National Nature Reserve to ensure that this special limestone landscape has been managed in a way that conserves its iconic habitats and species.

2015 Peter Standing – for his work managing the Arnside/Silverdale AONB Landscape Trust’s annual event programme since 2010; attracting, entertaining and informing many local people and visitors to the area.

2014 Barry Ayre – for his outstanding contribution over many years including his work compiling an historical archive and also as editor of Keer to Kent

2013 David Mower – for his work as Warden at RSPB Leighton Moss and outstanding commitment to nature conservation in the AONB

2012 Ann Kitchen – for her work as Chair of the Bittern Community Interest Company, in particular for setting up the AONB community solar photovoltaics initiative; and also her longstanding contribution to biodiversity recording as part of the Arnside Natural History Society

2011 Peter Goulder and Sheila Porter – for their work to restore an important heritage orchard within the AONB and for hosting the ever popular AONB Apple Days

2010 Martin Wain and Butterfly Conservation – for their work to conserve High Brown Fritillary butterflies in the AONB

2009 Arthur Boswell – for his many years service as an AONB volunteer

2008 Colin Peacock – for his longstanding commitment as AONB Executive Committee Chairman and involvement in the governance of the AONB since its designation